Asher: "?"
Asher pointed at his own nose with his backhand.
"You mean, they're coming for me?", Asher's tone carried a hint of indescribable surprise.
July nodded, "That's just the feeling I got."
At this point, July's expression looked a little tense.
"I know this sounds a bit outrageous, but…", July lowered her head.
As an orphan, July considered herself already very lucky.
Although she wasn't given special treatment at the welfare institute as a child, she also didn't suffer much hardship.
The director father treated all the children equally.
When she came of age, after awakening the Beast Tamer aptitude, she received various subsidies and support from the state.
At the most critical moment, when choosing her initial pet beast, because of Asher's discovery, there appeared the honeybug, the optimal choice for her. July had more than once felt that she was truly very lucky.
She got into a good university.
With her identity as a Beast Tamer, even though July was still very inexperienced, she still found a decent part-time job.
And more good news, her honeybug successfully evolved into a Fairy Butterfly three months ago.
The future was visibly getting better and better.
At this time.
July received an offer from the East Soren Corporation, expressing their desire to sponsor her.
The conditions offered by the other party were extremely generous.
Tuition.
Living expenses.
Resources needed for pet beast training.
They would even help her contract with a pet beast with better aptitude.
July didn't know what other sponsored people with similar backgrounds as her thought.
Facing the olive branch thrown by East Soren Corporation, her first thought was; there's no pie falling from the sky, there's no free lunch in the world.
The sponsorship treatment offered by East Soren Corporation far exceeded the normal range.
If she herself were a genius, or say had some very unique talent in beast mastery, July might not have thought this much.
But she was really just an ordinary and plain girl.
At most, her talent skill [Mental Soothing] was a little special.
This also helped July confirm her future goal.
To join the Pet Beast Service Center and become an excellent healer. Nothing more.
But in the eyes of East Soren Corporation, these probably weren't considered highlights at all.
After much thought. July didn't immediately accept the sponsorship from East Soren Corporation.
To July's decision, the staff member from East Soren Corporation responsible for her was quite surprised.
"Logically, since I hesitated, I refused, a big company like East Soren Corporation shouldn't pester me," July held her cup with both hands, her face looking quite helpless and troubled.
"They kept pestering you?", Asher frowned slightly, a serious look appearing on his face.
Seeing Asher's worried expression for her, July once again smiled sincerely.
"Mm," She lightly nodded.
"At first, I was just hesitating, saying I needed to think more."
"But after hesitating twice, and then firmly refusing, they switched to another staff member to contact me."
Different from the first worker who was just a regular employee.
The new person was very professional.
This professionalism made July even more certain, their target was definitely not herself.
Thinking of this, July looked up at Asher, "You know how simple my social circle is."
"If I really have something special, it's that I know you."
Asher.
Professor Asher.
Almost no one in the country doesn't know the youngest professor in pet beast evolution research.
Asher rubbed his chin, "Hmm…"
"I'm not lying…", Seeing Asher seeming a bit skeptical, July hurried to continue explaining.
Asher waved his hand, "I believe you."
July paused.
"And no matter what, I'm really happy you came to warn me," Asher continued.
July said a little embarrassedly, "No, no, what I said… doesn't have actual evidence."
"I just don't want you to be deceived, Asher," July said earnestly.
"And also…", July's expression looked a bit troubled, but she still continued.
Her voice small.
"If they not only approached me, but also other people…"
Asher instantly understood what July meant.
Indeed.
If they could think of approaching July, whether it was to play an emotional card with Asher or something else, then it's impossible they wouldn't try others.
Although in their class back then, students with miserable backgrounds like Asher and July were few, that didn't mean there weren't any.
Either those with slightly worse family environments, or those with a bit more ambition.
In the eyes of those with ulterior motives, they were also very easy targets.
"All right, now that I've been reminded, I'm relieved," July, who had been wanting to find Asher and finally got the chance this holiday.
After finishing these things, she smiled gracefully.
July stood up, looked at Asher and said, "Then I won't bother you anymore, Asher, see you next time."
Asher didn't try to keep July.
He knew that would make the girl uncomfortable.
"Okay, I'll walk you out," Asher also stood up and escorted July outside the research institute.
Personally saw her off into the car.
Only then did he turn and return to the institute.
As soon as he entered, he was met with several pairs of curious, gossip-filled eyes.
Asher: "…"
A bad premonition spread in his heart.
"Professor Asher, that girl just now. What's your relationship with her?"
"Yeah yeah! I feel like Professor Asher always has beautiful women of all ages around."
"Before you guys arrived, two girls about the same age as Professor Asher also came to the institute, both stunning!"
Levi, Pierce, and Chase were gossiping together, one comment after another. If you listened to them, you'd think Asher had a string of girlfriends.
Asher stayed silent.
Then Asher no longer stayed silent.
If he kept quiet, these people would create a whole complete and complicated love story for him.
Asher: 'Not necessary.'
"I was originally planning to give you guys a holiday for the Double Glory Festival, but now…", Asher paused appropriately, his eyes swept over everyone.
Sarah was the first to raise her hand, "Professor Asher, I didn't say anything."
"You can keep Chase, but let me have my holiday!"
Chase: "!"
Chase looked at Sarah with a face of disbelief.
'That's my wife? My actual wife?'
"Wife, you've changed!"
"Mm, I've changed, I want a holiday," Sarah nodded calmly, then linked arms with Eliana beside her.
"I already made plans with Eliana to go to the water park next time."
Under Chase's even more shocked gaze, Sarah continued, "The kind that doesn't include you."
Visibly.
Chase's background turned into thunder and lightning.
His mood was dark.
It was like he was just one step away from collapsing and yelling in disbelief.
Asher smiled.
'So this is what they call, the deepest cut always comes from the ones closest to you?'
"I… I-I! I was wrong!", Seeing this, Levi quickly raised both hands as well.
Pierce nodded furiously.
Chase: "?"
Chase continued looking at his buddies in disbelief.
'What?'
'You're betraying me just like that?'
'Huh?'
"Hehe," Pierce turned and smiled apologetically at Chase, "Brother Chase, I made plans with Liang to go hiking…"
Chase: "…"
'So I'm the outsider here?'
Asher stood aside watching, and couldn't help but reveal a faint smile on his face.
"All right, all right, no need to perform for me."
"Just remind me when the next scheduled holiday is."
"Sometimes I have too many things going on and forget."
Asher clarified again.
He wasn't some black-hearted boss who didn't even give his employees legal holidays.
He really wasn't.
At this moment, Chase toned down his exaggerated expression and said to Asher, "Don't say you forgot, sometimes we forget ourselves."
"Back in the earlier years, when we were stuck in the lab, where were the legal holidays."
Five-day work weeks?
Six-day work weeks?
None of that existed.
If the research was going smoothly, the professor in charge of the institute might remember to give them a holiday.
If the research didn't go well…
Heh.
Overtime it was.
From dawn till dusk.
Rest?
Vacation?
Didn't exist.
Asher: "…"
'Great, I suddenly became the benevolent boss again.'
"No need to flatter me, everyone clean up the equipment in the institute, and then you can get ready to go."
"See you in five days."
Whether genuinely or not.
Everyone's faces showed joy.
Five days of holiday.
Wasn't easy for these researchers either.
Time to make plans.
Go out and walk around, feel better.
"Professor Asher, do you want to come with us?"
Pierce leaned in and looked at Asher.
Looking at him expectantly.
Sarah also smiled brightly at Asher, "Professor Asher, why don't you join me and Eliana instead."
"In this summer heat, hiking is so exhausting."
"If you ask me, a water park is much more comfortable."
"No comparisons," Hearing that, Pierce quickly crossed his hands and gestured a big X.
Asher smiled, "You all have fun, bringing the boss along would be boring."
With that one sentence, Asher rejected both sides.
Seeing this, they didn't say anything more.
After tidying up the institute's equipment and files, everyone quickly left.
Only Asher was left in the institute.
"Hmm…", After thinking, Asher released his pet beasts.
Little Raven flapped its wings and flew right to Asher's face.
Little jellyfish slowly yet suddenly fell onto Asher's head.
Cat-Worm and little white snake circled around Asher.
Super clingy.
It had been a while since he'd been this surrounded by his pets, Asher silently typed a question mark.
"What's going on with everyone?"
"Why does today feel a little weird?"
'Could it be because of my sudden disappearance last time?'
Asher shook his head decisively.
'No, last night they all clung to the bed the whole night.'
'And today they stayed in my mental sea beast space, refusing to come out.'
Asher looked to the calmest one on the side, the only one who hadn't pounced, Angel.
Hoping Angel could save him.
Facing Asher's pleading gaze.
Angel blinked its big googly eyes, seemingly not getting the correct signal from Asher.
"Everyone is comforting Master."
Asher: "?"
Never mind Angel's way of addressing him.
Still the same thing. No matter how strange the name, he was used to it.
As long as Angel didn't suddenly say something like "Goshujin-sama," Asher felt he could handle it.
But…
"Comforting?", Asher repeated the word in confusion.
'Why comfort me?'
'Where do I look like I have suffered a blow?'
Angel continued staring silently at Asher, then blinked again.
"Does Master's phone need Angel's comfort?"
Signal error.
Before Asher could refuse.
Angel was faster.
Even though its wings were useless, Angel still zoomed in front of Asher.
Luckily Asher was mentally prepared for Angel's ability and wasn't startled.
Angel came to Asher's side.
Like it was affectionately rubbing, emotionlessly but skillfully brushed twice on Asher's hand.
Asher: "…"
'All right, what else can I do?'
He'd known Angel this long, more or less understood it.
A little tolerance was only normal.
Asher sighed.
Poured himself a special fruit juice, and with all the pets clinging to him, went to sit on the soft sofa.
Angel followed all the way.
Seeing Asher's slouched and lazy posture.
Angel's eyes blinked quickly again.
"Has Master been dealt a blow?"
Asher bent down and picked up the heavy Cat-Worm lying on his shoes.
Feeling the fine-scaled texture beneath his hand.
"Blow?"
"Who could possibly deal me a blow?"
Angel responded seriously.
"Human malice."
Asher paused.
He suddenly understood what was going on with his pets at home.
"So you're all worried about what July told me?", Asher looked at the pets at home, both amused and helpless.
Little Raven tilted its head.
Cat-Worm also lifted its head, using its antennae to bump Asher twice.
Little jellyfish stayed on Asher's head, seemingly an extractor of souls.
Little white snake circled Asher's leg.
They all used their own ways to comfort Asher.
"No need."
'A blow?'
'Impossible.'
At most, Asher was just curious.
'This East Soren Corporation, where did their confidence come from, thinking they can deal with Me?'
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.
https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y